This Week In Cubs History – 03/11/07

Daylight savings time and 22 days left until the Cubs open the regular season in Cincinnati. Highlights from this week include…. The South Side of Chicago was given a team and permission to use a former name by the team on the North Side, The Mayor of Wrigley Field was born, Sammy Sosa was extended and Rich Hill turns 27 today.

Now to the ‘Way Back Machine’….

March 11

1980 – Rich Hill, born

1933 – Rogers Hornsby (1929-1932, Manager 1930-1932), out of baseball since being fired as the Cubs manager in 1932, joined the Cardinals after a 6-year absence from St. Louis

1933 – During an exhibition game in Los Angeles between the Cubs and Giants, a substantial earthquake occurred. Players from both teams huddled around second base until the tremors stopped.

March 12

1971 – Randy Hundley (1966-1973, 1976-1977) suffered a badly sprained knee and only played nine games for the Cubs in 1971. Hundley played 160 games for the Cubs in 1968.

1957 – Mike Quade, born

1954 – Larry Rothschild, born

March 13

1986 – Hal McRae and his son Brian McRae (1995-1997) played together for the Royals in a Spring Training game against the Phillies. Hal was 39 and Brian was 18.

1954 – Hank Aaron made his debut after an injury to Bobby Thompson, who had recently been acquired by the Braves.

March 14

2003 – Kenny Lofton (2003) signed a 1-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates

1969 – Heinie Zimmerman, died

1954 – Hank Aaron made his first start for the Braves and recorded three hits

March 15

1961 – Kirby Puckett, born

1925 – Cubs Shortstop Rabbit Maranville (1925) broke his leg sliding into third base during an exhibition game in Los Angeles. Maranville returned to the Cubs lineup on May 24th

March 16

2001 – Sammy Sosa (1992-2004) signed a 4-year contract extension with the Cubs. The contract extension will keep Sosa with the Cubs until 2006. The Cubs did trade Sosa before the 2005 season but were still responsible for $3 million dollars in 2006. 2007 is the first season since 1992 the Cubs have not paid Sammy Sosa.

1999 – The 1998 National League Rookie of the Year, Kerry Wood (1998 to present) suffered a ligament tear in his right elbow. The surgery caused Wood to miss the entire 1999 season.

1984 – The Mets signed Jerry Martin (1979-1980)

1960 – The Red Sox traded Sammy White and Jim Marshall (1958-1959, Manager 1974-1976) to the Indians for Russ Nixon. The trade was later cancelled when White retired.

1900 – At an American League meeting in Chicago, Ban Johnson announced that an AL team would be placed in Chicago, ensuring the stability of the league. In an agreement with the Chicago National League Ball Club officials, the AL club will be placed on the Southside of Chicago and will be permitted to use the nickname the “White Stockings”, formerly used by the NL team. However, the White Stockings were not able to use the word “Chicago” in their official name.

March 17

2005 – The Committee on Government Reform hearing concerning Major League player use of steroids took place. Sammy Sosa (1992-2004), Rafael Palmeiro (1986-1988), Curt Schilling, Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire were all in attendance.

1984 – Ferguson Jenkins (1966-1973, 1982-1983) was given his unconditional release by the Cubs. Jenkins was 6-9 with a 4.30 ERA in 1983